To say our country is in uncharted territory would be a huge understatement. Covid-19 is morphing into new strains with unknown implications. A new administration is in the white house that half of the country didn’t vote for. That’s not unusual in an election but this is,
Military.com – Guard officials said Thursday that approximately 7,000 troops would likely remain in D.C. through the end of January. As of Friday, the plan is to have up to 7,000 troops remain in D.C. through March 12, but those details are still in the planning stages, a National Guard official told Military.com. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/01/22/national-guard-plans-ask-thousands-of-troops-remain-dc-until-mid-march.html
In other parts of the country Antifa and BLM protestors are still burning and destroying making it known that they want to be “ungoverned.” These events ought to bring any God fearing person to prayer for a normal and stable life. This weeks Torah Portion “Beshalach | בשלח | “When He Sent” has something in common with our situation.
In it Israel has just “Been Sent” out of Egypt after God killed all the first born in homes that were not covered by the “Blood of The Lamb.” God immediately begins protecting and leading the traveling Israelites with a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. After God destroys the Egyptian army in the Red Sea and has sweetened the bitter waters the Israelites still express little or no faith in God.
It’s concerning the bitter waters of Marah that a new word is mentioned in the Bible, murmur.
Exodus 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
Exodus 16
2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
7 And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.
9 And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the Lord: for he hath heard your murmurings.
As I read those words in the Torah Portion I thought, “I need to be very careful not to express my prayers to God in the form of a worrisome complaint but rather in the form of faith.” Israel’s mistake was that they didn’t accept the fact that God was leading, providing and protecting them and they were exactly where He wanted them at this time. What they didn’t know was that they were in a test. God’s tests don’t come with an alert like our Emergency Broadcast System does. https://youtu.be/wdpLWML_tDU
Exodus 16:4 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. (Prove – H5254 – to test, try, tempt, to attempt)
As I began to look at the word murmur, a word often written as “grumble” as to complain in other translations I learned that it is very complex word. The Strong’s definition is confusing until you take a good look at it.
Murmur H3885 – 1. to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide, to dwell, remain, to cause to rest or lodge 2. to grumble, complain, murmur, to complain, cause to grumble
Are you a little confused about the meaning of H3885? Look at a few examples of it’s Biblical use.
Ruth 1:16: (KJV) And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Psalms 30:5: (KJV) For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalms 91:1: (KJV) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Genesis 31:54: (KJV) Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
Exodus 16:2: (KJV) And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
We are told in scripture to bring our needs, concerns and even our complaints to God but to do it “in faith” that He hears and loves us. So why is murmuring different? The Strong’s definition gives us a clue. It’s when we let a need, concern or complaint become a mindset. It’s letting the negative thing we are facing have too much priority and become rooted in our mind and heart. The definition is a warning to not let negative thoughts spend the night, have a place to lodge and before we know it just outright dwell there.
When we are afflicted or overwhelmed, we can pour out our complaint before God. It’s the proper way to deal with difficulty. Complaining can have value by its expression of faith and trust in God to find a way out of a situation. There is no positive thing that comes from murmuring.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
There are times we just have to be honest with God because He always knows the attitude of our heart and our thoughts even before we think them. There have been times during worship at church when in my heart I told God, “Lord you know my heart is heavy. There are things in my mind that are trying to exult themselves above my desire to worship you right now but I choose to cast them down. I don’t deny they are there but I don’t give them place above you.” Is that some of what Jesus meant when He said we need to “worship in spirit and truth?” https://biblehub.com/john/4-24.htm
v.23 “…for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”
Can we just remember to be honest with God with the things we face in this life and try to remember that He is Sovereign and in control of all things both good and bad. Satan is on a leash and God can jerk his chain anytime He wants. Throughout our lives we will face tests of our Faith in God, some tiny ones and some huge Goliath ones.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
Merriam Webster defines “Worry” as
1: dialectal British : CHOKE, STRANGLE
2:a: to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping especially at the throat
b: to shake or pull at with the teeth (a terrier worrying a rat)
c: to touch or disturb something repeatedly
d: to change the position of or adjust by repeated pushing or hauling
3:a: to assail with rough or aggressive attack or treatment : TORMENT
b: to subject to persistent or nagging attention or effort
4: to afflict with mental distress or agitation : make anxious
WOW!!! After writing this I finished my devotional reading for the day from Tecarta Bible app. Today was an excerpt from the Love Language Devotional Minute that I also read each day. Sometimes God let’s you know when your thoughts are on the right track. I mentioned Philippians 4:6-7 in my post. The devotional jumps in at verse 8.
Changing your attitude can be a catalyst that sets in motion a seasonal change in your marriage. I must confess that I learned this truth the hard way. Earlier in my marriage, I spent a great deal of time in the winter season because of my negative attitudes. And when I was in the midst of winter, I found it hard to admit that my attitude was part of the problem. It was much easier to blame my wife, Karolyn’s, behavior. Today I readily admit that my negative thinking was the culprit.
If your relationship is filled with frustration and strain, my guess is that you, too, have the tendency to blame your spouse and are failing to recognize your own negative attitudes. If you want to break free from the coldness and bitterness of a winter relationship, I challenge you to change your attitude. As long as you curse the darkness, it will get darker. But if you look for something good in your marriage, you’ll find it.
This famous verse from Philippians 4 reminds us to fix our thoughts on good things—things that are true, right, honorable, pure, lovely, and admirable. This kind of focus can change the way we see everything around us. Focusing on the positive creates a warmer climate. Express appreciation to your spouse for one positive action, and you’ll likely see another.
Father, I have so much to be thankful for. There are reasons to hope all around me, if I will only look for them. Forgive me for my negativity and the effect it’s had on my outlook and my marriage. Help me to see the positive.
This is an excerpt from: Love Language Minute Devotional – Try It
Jesus Is The Aleph & The Tav, The Alpha & The Omega, The First & The Last
א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω א ת Jesus Α Ω
Deja Vu WOW!!! – Today is January 28th, 2 days after writing this post. While reading the daily Love Language Devotional as I previously mentioned I thought I was having a “senior moment.” As I read it seemed like something I had read yesterday. It should have felt that way but it was day before yesterday. It was Deja Vu all over again!!!
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4942016/user-clip-light-candle
In 1960 John F. Kennedy used an instance in his acceptance speech after receiving the Presidential nomination of the Democratic Party:
“We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us thru that darkness to a safe and sane future.”
In The Word 